A very thundery year, with severe
thunderstorms & hail causing flooding on the 11th & 24th July in this
year.

8

1751-1760
(10 years)

In England, the summers of this period
were the wettest in a record that began in 1697. These 10 wet summers in a row
produced an overall anomaly of 127% of the modern-era mean.
1751 in particular is regarded as a notably wet year, at least in the London/SE
region. It included a wet March, a wet first two-thirds of May and some severe
thunderstorms & flooding in November.
The 1752 summer (London/SE) was noted as 'cool & damp'.
More wet summers for London/SE in 1755, 1756 & 1758.

1,
8

1751

A wet year. A wet March with continual
rain from the 1st to 11th. Heavy rain during the first 18 days of May.
Thunderstorm with snow/hail caused flooding on the 21st November. (all
London).

8

1751
(February)

26th February(OS)/9th March(NS): severe
gale affected most of the southern half of the country and destroyed a number
of ships in the Thames.

8, 23

1752-1840's

According to Lamb, this period (though
with a 'lull' from 1783-1802) was "extraordinary for the frequency of
explosive volcanic eruptions, which maintained dust veils high in the
atmosphere & may have contributed (perhaps significantly) to the reversal
of what otherwise would have been a noted climatic recovery from the late
1600's onwards. Some of the more notable events were:
(a): 1783 - Iceland, Japan.
(b): 1812 - St. Vincent, West Indies & Awu, Celebes.
(c): 1814 - Philippines.
(d): 1815 - Tambora, East Indies. (Lamb/CHMW) Optical effects recorded by
observers of the time, along with some famous 'sunsets' in paintings by such as
Turner.
[ see details against the particular years - where available. ]

1

20th July 1752

A whirlwind associated with a
thunderstorm lifted two boats several feet (3 feet ~ = 1 metre) out
of the Thames at Vauxhall and smashed one of them to pieces on the river bank.
It is claimed (?) that this was the only thunderstorm in London during this
year. A cool, damp summer.

8

October 1752

Dry & warm
(London/South).

8

1753

Whitehall flooded on the 22nd March.
(Storm-surge?)

8

1755
(mid/late Winter - early/mid Spring)

Odd sequence overall - generally cold,
but with an anomalously warm April sandwiched in amongst the chill! The year
1755 was cold, with an anomaly of (minus)0.7C for the year. January (-1.0C),
February (-2.6) & March (-1.3) were all notably cold, but April tried to
correct this, promising a fine Spring. The CET figure for that month was 10.0
(+2.1C), and placed this April just outside the warmest 10 such-named months in
the entire series. However, the promise failed, as May turned cold again, and
ended up with an anomaly of -1.8C.

CET

1755, 1756 & 1758

All wet summers in the London area. More
generally, April of 1756 was notably wet by the EWP series: amongst the top 3
such-named months. (See also 1782 and 1818).

8, EWP

1756
(May)

May 1756 was notably cold. With a CET
value of 9.1degC, this placed it just outside the 'top-10' or so coldest Mays
in that long series, with an 'all-series' anomaly of over -2C.
> 6th May: Almost every day for a fortnight there has either been snow
(large flakes) or large hailstones, and excessively cold. (as reported in the
Journals of Ralph Jackson/Newcastle upon Tyne)

CET,
other

1756
(October)

October 7th: a major cyclonic storm, with
tornadic elements, affected much of the southern and central North Sea, most of
Britain and continental areas on the other side of the North Sea. The strongest
winds over Britain (with the most documented damage) occurred over northern
England, with numerous trees blown down ('twisted-off', hence possible
tornadoes). Buildings were damaged and there was considerable sea-salt
contamination of farming land around the Solway Firth. In Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
houses were 'blown down', ships sunk and others foundered on the shoreline or
were blown out to sea. A high tidal surge reported on the German, Dutch &
Danish coastlines: all these reports point to strongest winds being from NW or
N.

23

1757: (July)

A notably warm month by the CET record
(starts 1659). The value of 18.4degC is roughly +2.5C on the all-series
average, and placed it in the 'top-10' Julys in terms of warmth. The other
'summer' months were nothing special though; indeed, August 1757 was on the
'chilly' side, with a negative anomaly using the CET series.

CET

1758
(Summer)

A wet summer across England & Wales.
The anomaly is given by Lamb (in CHMW) as 143% of LTA (1916-1950).

1

December 1758

Thick fog on 2nd and 3rd December
(London/South).

8

January 1759

Exceptionally dry month over England
& Wales.

x

1762

Great flood in the Thames valley (.. date
not given).

8

1762 (late spring/early
summer)

Fine, warm or very warm weather -
prolonged from April to July. In the CET series (began 1659), it was in the top
10 to 15 summers (June, July & August) by that measure.

CET

October 1762

Snow on 28th October
(London/South).

8

December / January 1762/63

January 1763 was a bitterly cold month.
There was an intense frost from Christmas Day, 1762 until the end of January
(?London/South)(LW), often accompanied by an easterly wind - which implies a
Greenland / Scandinavian anticyclonic-blocking episode. The CET value was
-0.8degC, some 4C below the approximate 'all-series' mean.

8,
CET

1763-1772
(Summers)

These years experienced wet summers, with
an average for the period of 117%

1

1763
(Summer)

A very wet summer across England &
Wales. The anomaly is given by Lamb (in CHMW) as 181% of LTA (1916-1950), and
he ranks it as the second wettest in the rain-gauge record.
However, note that across Scotland, there are reports of a 'Great drought'
during the summer of 1763 & differences north-to-south like this are quite
common occurrences.

Severe winter [ November to February ].
Using the CET series, each of these months had an anomaly exceeding -2C, with
December & January values nearer -2.5C (wrt all-series mean).
The driest January in the EWP series (which starts in this month/year), at
4.4mm. (see also ... 1740).( Also, the third driest any-month in the
series. )

8, EWP,
CET

1766-1768
(Three consecutive cold Januarys)

As an additional note to that above
(q.v.), the Januarys of 1766, 1767 & 1768 were all bitterly cold, with
anomalies (using the CET series) much greater than -2C, and that of 1767, with
a CET of 0.1degC had an all-series anomaly of -3.1C.

CET

Summers of 1766 & 1767

Both years had wet summers.

8

start 1767 & start 1768

Both these years commenced with severe
frosts which were described as comparable with the intensity of frosts of
1739/40. [ see also below ]

8

May 1767

Snow on 5th May
(London/South).

8

September 1767

Foggy 19th - 25th September; thick fog on
20th & 21st September.

8

December 1767 - January 1768

Severe cold spell set in from roughly
mid-December 1767 and lasted until beginning of the second week of January,
1768. Gilbert White (Selborne) writes: .. "the most severe known for many
years - much damage to ever-greens". [This latter comment perhaps implies
that as well as very low temperatures, there was a considerable 'wind-burn'
effect.]
During last few days of December 1767, 'considerable' falls of snow at Selborne
(NE Hampshire). Bitterly cold spell second half of December 1767. Further
snowfall in the opening days of January 1768. Some very low temperatures -
daytime maxima no higher than 18 or 19 degF (circa -7degC) in some places.
Severe frost and deep snow (London/South).

8, White

1768
(February)

Snow-melt & rain event overtopped
banks (of the River Aire) in Leeds (W. Yorkshire). The EWP value (representing
an areal average across England & Wales) for that month showed nearly twice
the 'all-series' value for that month, following a slightly-above average
precipitation value for January. Following-on the remarks under January
(above), I think we can assume that snowfall during January around and above
Leeds (across the Pennine headwaters of the Aire) must have been
considerable. [The year 1768 is the second-wettest year in the
EWP series - see below].

EWP

June
(& summer) 1768

7th: Beginning of wettest part of a
record wet summer in England. Rain on at least 36 days out of the next 44;
thundery. On 11th/12th June, a "two day deluge".
A wet summer across England & Wales. Lamb (in CHMW) gives the anomaly as
164% of LTA (1916-1950), and he ranked it as the sixth wettest in the
rain-gauge record. [See also the comment against September/below]

1, 6, EWP

1768
(September)

Heavy rain at Bruton, Somerset led to
severe flooding in the area on the 1st. The river rose very rapidly, completely
destroying one of the stones bridges, with the force of water causing the
breaking of house windows in the nearby village of Pitcombe. According to
contemporary reports, a localised 'violent' storm (presumably adding to already
high water levels - see below), caused the River Brue to "swell three feet
perpendicular within 5 minutes", resulting in the severe flooding of
numerous houses, destruction of the town bridge and demolition of walls
throughout Bruton. (1768 was a notably wet year - see below: the immediately
preceding summer 1768 [ JJA ], was also wet using the EWP series, with June
1768 the second wettest June in the series, and the summer anomaly averaging
out at over 175% of long-term).

EWP

December 1768

A report of the London-Exeter coach being
carried away by a flood on the Thames near Staines (? 1st) with the loss of all
6 passengers & four horses.

8

1768

The second wettest year in the EWP series
(as at 2006), with 1247mm of rain. See also 1872, 1852, 1960 & 2000.
A notably wet year in London. A wet summer but the heaviest rain fell in the
autumn. Major flooding along the River Thames during December.

With a CET averaged over the three months
of March, April & May 1770 of 5.97degC, this Spring was technically the
second-coldest such-named season in that record (but for all intents, equal
with 1695 given the approximations involved in the earlier part of the series).
(See also 1695 & 1837)
SNOW on 2nd to 4th May (London/South).

8,
CET

1770
(August)

The storms / floods affecting many parts
of the south of England from the 6th onwards (& parts of SE Wales) were
notable. Severe thunderstorms broke out in west Cornwall on the 6th - extending
across much of Cornwall, Devon & the West of England by the end of the 7th.
A great flood occurred at Lynmouth (North Devon) - on a par with the event of
August, 1952. The notably stormy weather, with high-intensity rainfall events,
lightning / hail damage, violent thunder etc., extended across most southern
areas by the 12th August. Deaths, both stock & humans were reported. Much
loss of crops. (NB: the EWP value for this month was nothing special).

x

1770
(November)

1. Second wettest November in the EWP
series (began in 1766). Total rainfall was 201mm, not far short of the record
for November of 203mm set in 1852.[ One of only three months (any month that
is) in the record to reach or exceed 200mm, the others being October, 1903 and
November, 1852 ]. In Worcester, on the River Severn, there was a 'very great
flood', with the waters 10 inches higher than the flood of 1672 (q.v.)

Based on records from Lambeth
(London/south of the River), May, July & August were all part of a wet
summer for the capital & surrounding areas. May in particular experienced
over 180% of the contemporary average, and August, which was the second-wettest
month of that year, had 3.96ins / 100mm, representing ~160% of the
mean.

September 1773 to February 1774: By EWP
series, and relating to the 1961-1990 average, all months were above average;
total rainfall this period=688mm [ average=508mm ], which represents 135%. None
of the months exceptionally wet but enough prolonged rainfall to cause
significant problems in the early Spring of 1774.

EWP

March 1774

12th(NSP): Henley bridge (Berkshire /
Oxfordshire border) destroyed by flood waters - partly tidal (!) though
primarily due to heavy rainfall/fluvial drainage. This flood was the highest on
record at Teddington, and more generally the worst flood of the 18th century
along the Thames Valley. The sequence of events (a deep/penetrating frost
leading to frozen ground, some heavy snow, then a rapid thaw accompanied by
heavy rain) led to the flooding (and remember the sub-soil was already
saturated after the sustained rainfall since the previous autumn. 12th March
was the nominal high point of the Thames flood. Elsewhere, 50 acres of land
destroyed by a landslip at Selbourne (Hants). At Mapledurham, (between
Pangbourne & Reading), recent estimates are that the flood level at this
point was 0.6m / 2ft above the level of the major inundation of 1894 (q.v.)

8

1775-1784
(Summers)

Another in the 18th century series of
wet summers (see also 1751-1760 & 1763-1772). The anomaly for these years
is given by Lamb as 115%. This set of summers were also warm.

1,
CET

1775
(late spring - early summer)

Fine, warm weather prolonged through
April, May and June. Very heavy thunderstorm with hail (in London) on the
30th.

8

1775
(Summer)

A wet summer across England & Wales.
Lamb (in CHMW) gives the anomaly as 144% of LTA (1916-1950). In fact, the
anomaly was concentrated into July & August (well over twice average
rainfall taking the two months together), whereas June was largely dry (see
above). The wet 'high summer' months were followed by a wet autumn, and the
anomaly July to November~160% of LTA.

1, EWP

1776 (January - February)

1775/76: Severe winter; Severe cold
weather much of Europe 9th Jan to 2nd Feb: Thames frozen for some time;
intensely stormy cyclonic February followed.
January: A widespread and often severe frost for a large part of the month.
Also snow. (The 'Great Frost' from accounts by Gilbert White). The month
overall almost as cold as the record cold January of 1963. A severe/prolonged
cold spell. There were interludes of mild/melting, but snowfall was often
considerable, with frequent drifting. Considerably low temperatures over the
snow-cover during the second half of the month. Minima recorded at South
Lambeth were reported as 11, 7, 6 and 6degF on the nights of 28th to the 31st.
(in degC down to about -14degC.). At Selborne (NE Hampshire), the figures for
the same nights were: 7, 6, 10 and 0 degF, the 0degF converts to -18degC. These
low values were often accompanied by fog, and some reports suggest temperatures
as low as -4 deg Fahrenheit at Chatham and -11deg Fahrenheit at Maidstone, both
Kent. Obviously daytime temperatures were very low, with sub-zero values
persistent.
By the CET series, this January is in the 'top-10' of cold such-named months in
that dataset, which runs from 1659.
(A sudden thaw/milder weather evening 1st February.)

6, White, CET

October - December 1776

Fog on 14 days in October, 11 days in
November and 18days in December (London/South).

8

1778 - 1800

Dry years frequent in London area over
these years. The following are picked out as 'noteworthy': 1780, 1781, 1788,
1795 & 1796. Includes four warm summers (1778**, 1780, 1781 & 1783). [
** contains a wet July!]
[ However, note also that this period contained some notably wet years/summers!
]

8

1779 (January to March)

The first three months of this year were
exceptionally dry by the EWP series. January 1779 was the 3rd driest January in
that series, February 8th driest, and March 7th driest. In all, under 20% of
the average rainfall was assessed by the EWP set.
Exceptionally warm February in particular: by the CET series, the warmest
February in that series with a value of 7.9degC. March was in the 'top-10' of
warmest such named months. Also 'fine, warm and mild' in Scotland. [ NB: the
winter 1778/79 was also mild, which is unusual, because we (early 21st century)
have become used to mild winters/early springs being associated with wet
seasons.]

CET, EWP

1779
(late Summer/early Autumn)

Warm, or very warm through July, August and
September,but see note below & elsewhere.
Lambeth recorded 6.5 inches of rain (~165mm) in July 1779; this is a
considerable amount above the local average - something around 275%.(LW) Using
the wider EWP series, the total was 149mm (roughly 250% of the mean), and it
just comes into the 'top-10' of wettest Julys in that series: the rainfall was
obviously excessive over a wider area of England & Wales.

8,
EWP

1779

After the notably dry start (see above),
it turned out to be a rather wet year, with a wet summer (see above) - though
LW notes the August as being 'fine & warm'.

8

1779/80
(Winter)

Severe winter (London/South).
Coldest winter in the series 1764/65 to 1962/63 at Edinburgh, Scotland.
Using the CET series for lowland England, the anomaly for the three 'standard'
winter months of December, January & February was -2.3C on the all-series
mean. January 1780 was particularly cold with a CET value of -0.9degC (-4C
anomaly).

8,
CET

1780: (Annual)

A notably dry year by the EWP series - in
the 'top-5' by that measure (at 2002). (See also 1788, 1854, 1887 & 1921);
a dry/warm summer (London/South).
Fog on 10 days in August (London/South).

8, EWP

1781

Heavy thunderstorm on 17th February.
1781: (March): An exceptionally dry month in the EWP series. 5.6mm of rain
credited, the driest March in the series, and in the 'top 5' driest *any-month*
in that series. Coming after a notably dry year (1780/q.v.) and a dry winter,
the lack of rainfall during this 'sowing-out' month must have hit agriculture
hard.
A dry year; a notably warm summer (London/South & more generally across
England & Wales). Remarkably warm by the CET series June, July &
August.

Aberdeenshire: snow began to fall in
earnest on 1st February, with a 'good deep storm on the ground' by the 8th. The
snow continued to fall thereafter, with hard frosts, so that by the 14th
February, 'it was computed 8 inches over all (circa 20cm). The hard, persistent
frost was also noted at Forres, Morayshire - here it is said to have began on
the 1st February & continued for 8 weeks, i.e. throughout March.
By the 1st March, much of the earlier snow in Scotland had disappeared from the
lowlands, but with plenty remaining on the hills. Mixed weather came to an end
on the 10th, with a return of widespread snow to north and south of Scotland
alike. On the 11th, it is reported that there was a 'great' fall of snow, which
continued at least 12 hours. Aberdeenshire again badly affected, with snow
recorded every day between the 12th & 28th. Snowfall, with depths of
between 2 and 3ft [~ 1m ] also noted at Forres, Morayshire.

x

1782
(April & May)

Wettest such pair of months in the EWP
series. Total=281mm. (see also 1983 & 2000). In particular, April was the
wettest such-named month in the EWP series (until 2000 q.v.). 112.5mm recorded
for this month in Oxford (Radcliffe Observatory?).
6th April (Scotland): A late 'storm' of snow in the West Highlands proving
fatal for large numbers of sheep. Heavy snow was also noted from
Northamptonshire [English east Midlands] during April.

EWP

1782
(Annual & individual)

A wet year with a wet summer (in London).
The equal 10th wettest year in the EWP series, with 1109mm (= with 1789).
Amongst the wet months that year were: January, April (139mm/wettest April in
series), May (142mm/2nd wettest May in series), July, August (151mm/6th wettest
August in series) and September.
1782: (January): Three floods in 10 days noted at Forres, Morayshire.
April & May: wettest such pair of months in the EWP series. Total=281mm.
(see also 1983 & 2000)
In Scotland, for the second year in a row, the season was 'cold & backward'
such that unripened corn was buried by the snow that fell in October.

1, 6, 8, EWP

1782
(September
& October)

A great fall of snow across NE Scotland
(" the black aughty-twa ") on September 15th & again on October
31st - oat crops ruined and it was Christmas before the crop was cut - and even
then it was only fit for cattle feed. The resultant dearth of food led the Duke
of Gordon to give his tenants a rebate on rents, or extended time to pay
them.

1

Summer 1783 to late winter
1783/84

Icelandic volcanic eruption (Laki):
Primary eruptions (five) from June 8th to July 8th, 1783 (60% of the total
volume of ejection), but minor eruptions occurred until early February, 1784. A
major event, with huge production of sulphur & acid products, as well as
the largest production of lava in recorded history. The majority of emissions
are thought to have been confined to the troposphere, but the initial ejections
of each of the five major events did penetrate the tropopause and entered the
stratosphere. The intense period of eruption tallied with contemporary reports
across Europe of a blue haze or dry-fog in the atmosphere, damage to vegetation
and occurrence of respiratory problems (later analysis suggests that the
mortality due to the sulphur-based haze was counted in tens of thousands dead):
the effects noted at the time throughout summer & autumn. These effects are
consistent with increased atmospheric loading of acid aerosols, particularly
sulphates. Because of the (suspected) lack of major stratospheric impact, there
is controversy surrounding this event: For Iceland itself, the following winter
(1783/84) was known as the 'Famine Winter': 25% of the population died (many
from wet and dry deposition of acidic pollutants). Note, there is still some
argument as to whether this led to changes to the regional/European climate in
the years 1783, 1784 etc., and / or by how much.

(var, VOLC)

late Winter / early Spring
1783/1784

January to April 1784 ... notably cold,
and persistently so by CET series. In particular, the winter (1783 December -
1784 February) CET=1.2degC, some 2.5C below the all-series average. The Thames
was completely frozen in February and traffic crossed on the ice. (LW)
In Scotland, the period around and after Christmas was bitterly cold with a
'violent' easterly storm 25th/26th December, which caused havoc along the
Scottish east coast, and brought a large amount of snow which drifted
significantly.
(NB: the following winter/1784-85 was also about 1degC colder than average.
This has been attributed to the Laki eruption event but there is some doubt
about this - see above.)
2nd/3rd January: Scotland - a severe snowstorm affecting at least the Aberdeen
area, with much drifting. Drifts were reported to have reached around 5 or 6
metres in Aberdeenshire, seriously dislocating travel. Houses all down the
eastern side of Scotland were unroofed, rocks were blown into harbours on the
east coast, and stacks of corn & hay were carried away. Reports from
Edinburgh suggest that widespread bad conditions occurred elsewhere.

CET,
8, 23

Summer 1783

1. Hot dry weather set in during June
after continual rains. The fine weather was marred until 20th July or later by
persistent thick smoky haze and pall, apparently from an Iceland volcano [ see
above ]. Overall though, noted as a 'warm' summer (London/South).
2. July 1783 was a notably warm month (in the CET series), not only for July
but for any summer month. The value of 18.8degC represents an anomaly of +2.9C
over the all-series mean, placing it second warmest in the July lists, and also
making it the fourth warmest any named month in that series (which
starts in 1659.) [ The other summer months, June and August, were
above-average, but by half-a-degree or less, so nothing special. ]
3. A 'high-summer' noteworthy for it's thunderstorm activity. There is a
possible link with the high pollution (atmospheric aerosols) due to the 'Laki'
eruption.

6, 8, CET

1783 (autumn)

Foggy 26th September to 6th October
(London/South).

8

1783/84 & 1784/85
(winters)

Two successive severe winters occurred in
these years; in both winters the Thames was completely frozen for a short
period, with navigation affected for much longer periods. In 1783/84, almost
continuous frost from late December 1783 to late February 1784. In 1784/85,
frost/snow from early December 1784 to early January 1785, most of February and
during the first half of March.
Regarding the winter of 1784/85 in particular, in East Anglia (& more
widely), the 'winter' season was regarded as extending from the first fall of
snow in October (7th) to that which fell on April 4th. The whole period (apart
from 12 days in January) had been frosty. Reports from southern Scotland also
make mention of 'remarkable' snow & drifts during the winter, with the
Spring notably frosty. Other reports from London & the south (LW) note a
'severe winter'. Frost & snow from early December to early January, most of
February and during the first half of March. The Thames frozen solid at times
and traffic crossed on the ice.
The mean CET for the extended 'winter' period of December 1784 to March 1785
inclusive, was 1.3degC, nearly 3C below the all-series mean for that four-month
period. In fact January 1785 in this series was just above average, so it could
have been even worse!
[ This has been attributed to the Laki eruption event but there is some doubt
about this - see above.]

8,
CET

1784-1786

Three successive cold years; heavy snow
fell on the 25th October 1784 and there was snow on the 26th & 29th October
1785.

8

1784
(Annual & Summer)

In this cold year (in the 'top-10 coldest
years in the CET record - see below), the summer was wet in London/South; sleet
observed near coast of the Moray Firth in August & heavy snow (?London) on
the 25th October.
1784 was a notably cold year; with a CET value of 7.8degC, this year falls
within the 'top-10' of coldest years in this series (since 1659), and is
approximately 2C below the modern-day average. In particular, the summer was
consistently chilly. Each summer month (JJA) had a CET anomaly of at least
(minus)0.5C, and August had an anomaly of -1.6C on the whole-series mean.
(The 1780's were one of the coldest decades in the CET series & this
year was the coldest within those 10 years. There was a notable sequence of
three cold years, 1784-1786, where the annual mean for each year was over 1C
below the modern-day average.)

6, 8, CET

1784
(October)

Following a dry September (EWP=41mm/~50%
LTA), October 1784 was exceptionally dry using this same series, with a value
of 16 mm, representing roughly 18% of the average, and placing it third driest
for the month of October across England & Wales.
Not only was it notably dry but it was cold; the CET value is quoted as
7.8degC, which gives an anomaly of roughly -2C on the all-series average. Snow
fell in Suffolk on the 7th, at the start of a remarkably cold & dry spell
that lasted right through the winter and spring of 1784/85.

CET,
EWP
& Earl Soham
diary

January 1785

Over Scotland, around the middle two
weeks of January, some severe snowstorms, followed by prolonged frosts -
lasting into May in some areas. (Not necessarily continuous though!)

x

1784 December to 1785 June

Notably dry during this period. Less than
50% of the average rainfall over these 7 months, and includes the exceptionally
dry months of March 1785 (19mm) and April 1785 (10mm/6th driest April in the
series). Great distress to Agriculture by the spring / early summer 1785, with
spring-sowing failing due to lack of moisture & cattle having to be either
killed or fed on sub-standard supplies. [ The drought even more severe in
France. ]

x

1785:
(March)

Very cold: CET=1.2 degC, the second
coldest March in the series.

CET

1785:
(Annual)

One of the driest years across England
& Wales (using the EWP series) - into the 'top-10' using that measure.
Cold year: snow on the 26th & 29th October (?London).

8, EWP

November 1785

1st: Tornado damage in
Nottinghamshire.

6

1786

A cold year: A dry summer (London/South).
Autumn (September to November), was persistently cold (based on the CET
series). All three months had anomalies (w.r.t. modern values) between -2 &
-3.5C, & November 1786 was equal-tenth (with 1923, 1919, 1740 & 1746)
coldest such-named month in the series with a CET value of 3.3degC. For the
autumn overall, the average CET of 7.5degC is nearly 3C below the 1971-2000
average for autumn.

8,
CET

1786
(September)

14th/15th September, 1786: Major storm
affected much of the British Isles (but perhaps not Scotland) - destroyed
houses, overturned coaches/wagons & killed many people. Many trees in the
south of England were 'torn up by their roots', with the New Forest
specifically mentioned. Ships were driven ashore and damaged or destroyed, with
deaths of sailors the result. Lamb thinks that the strongest winds (possibly
gusts to 80 knots) occurred in a broad belt across the English Midlands, and
the wind may have been 'unusually squally'.

23

1786/87 (winter)

Notaby mild in Scotland. (Severe/cold
winters were common at this time - so quite unusual). December was wet &
stormy according to an Aberdeen paper, without much frost/snow. The remarkably
mild weather affected much of January - temperatures by day in Kelso for
example rising to 5 to 10 degC from late December until mid-January. February
also noted as being without 'harsh' weather.

x

1788

A dry year (London/South). The driest
year in the EWP series with 612mm of rain; this represents roughly two-thirds
of the all-series mean. [Other dry years: 1921 & 1887 q.v.]. Includes the
driest December in the EWP series, with a value of just 9 mm averaged over
England & Wales. From records in the London area (quoted in 'London
Weather'), both South Lambeth and Somerset House failed to record any rain
during December.

8, EWP

June 1788

28th: probably the wettest day ever
recorded in Suffolk.

6

1788/89
(winter)

30th November 1788 - earliest known case
of a long unbroken frost began on this date, lasting until early January 1789.
Although the winter overall didn't stand out as regards severity, December, and
to a lesser extent January, were bitterly cold. The CET value for December 1788
was -0.3degC, some 4.4C below the 'all-series' mean for that month, and for
January 1789, the value of 1.5degC was nearly 2C below the 'all-series' mean.
December 1788 in particular is comfortably in the 'top-5' of coldest Decembers
in the CET series. The Thames was completely frozen during this severe winter
(implying a persistence of sub-zero temperatures) and a frost fair was held on
the river, with the usual reports of sports / pastimes etc. "Deep
snow" is noted in contemporary reports, diaries etc. (In the London area,
the 'hard frost' is noted as having lasted from the 25th November, 1788 to the
14th January, 1789.(LW)
The combination of the extreme drought of 1788 (q.v.) & the bitter, frosty
conditions, meant that water was in very short supply in the winter of 1788/89;
much 'profiteering' as small quantities of water were sold for high
prices.

6, 8, usw, CET

1789

A wet summer (in London). Probably the
10th wettest year (equal with 1782) in the EWP series: in particular, May to
July of that year was a particularly wet period, with a total rainfall for
those three months of around 350mm (EWP), representing roughly 180% of the
mean. This was of course in marked contrast to the previous (notably dry) year
- see 1788.
(This was only beaten for these three months by 2007 / 415 mm May, June &
July q.v.)

8,
EWP

1789/90 (winter)

Very mild winter in Scotland. December
1789 began with mild, dry weather from the south-west followed by a mixture of
frost and 'fresh' days, with some snow about. Frost at the beginning of January
was certainly hard enough to stop ploughing, but fine, fresh weather returned
from the south on 6th January and continued for the next three weeks. February
continued in similar vein, with winds generally from the southwest. (However, winter 'arrived' in April, with severe frosts and
frequent snowfall; (see below.)[ Also a mild winter England & Wales, with an anomaly for
the three 'winter' months of +2C.]

x, CET

1790 (January)

Fog on 22 days in January
(London/South).

8

1790 (April)

After a notably mild winter (see above),
'winter' weather set in with a vengeance in Scotland. Intense cold with
frequent hail / snow, with snowfall in the hills more like January than April.
Great deal of snow on the 12th with intense cold. Similar on the 15th, with
further snowfall in Scotland. The CET value was 6.1degC, around 1.8C below the
all-series mean; this month was colder than February or March this year.

CET

1790 (June)

Temperature of 91degF (33 degC) on 22nd
June (London??)

8

1790 (December)

December 23rd: a severe storm of rain,
hail & thunder with very vivid and long flashes of lightning. It extended
(reportedly) over the greater part of England & Ireland. Much damage was
done to shipping and to houses in London, Windsor, Colchester etc.

x

1791
(February)

February 2nd, a notably high tide
accompanied by high winds led to flooding down many east English coastal areas.
Specifically, we have notes of flooding in Westminster ('Lawyers were ferry'd
into Westminster Hall'), Ipswich, and other coastal areas of Lincolnshire, East
Anglia & Kent. (LW/Earl Soham).

8

1791 (June)

On the 12th June 1791 (also the 2nd June
1975), snow fell in London (and elsewhere across southern England), but melted
off almost immediately. [With these older reports, we always have to consider
the possibility of mis-reporting soft hail etc. June 1791 is not noted as being
a particularly cold month - indeed, by the CET series, it was slightly above
average as far as the all-month temperature goes. However, in that other famous
example, 2nd June, 1975, the cold start, with snow, turned rapidly to a fine,
warm type thereafter q.v.]

x

1792 (summer)

A wet summer (in London).

8

1792 (December)

According to Lamb, the month of December, 1792
is remarkable for the frequency with which gales and storm-force winds were
reported from many parts of Europe, including the areas adjacent to the North
Sea. The upper-air pattern must have been greatly developmental with a very
strong jet persisting.
Amongst the notable storms that Lamb (& others) analysed for this month are
included: 5th (Southern North Sea), 7th/8th (whole North Sea), 10th-12th (whole
North Sea) and 19th-23rd (eventually the whole of the North Sea).

Lamb / Wheeler,
23

1792
(Annual)

This was a wet year (~120% of long-term
average), with a particularly wet spell from July to September, the latter
month being 9th in the 'wettest' list (for Septembers) in the EWP.

EWP

1793

A dry summer (London/South).

8

January 1794

A 'remarkable' snowstorm swept the southwest of
Scotland beginning on the 23rd January 1794. It came to be known locally as the
'Gonial Blast' because of the extraordinary number of sheep that were
killed, in addition to the deaths of many of the shepherds attending.
[gonial/goniel=mutton of sheep]{'Weather': Vol49/p415,416}
The following is a report written after the event: " there is a place
called the Beds of Esk, where the tide throws out and leaves whatever is
carried into it by the rivers. When the flood after the storm subsided, there
was found on that place and shores adjacent, one thousand eight hundred and
forty sheep, nine black cattle, three horses, two men, one woman, forty-five
dogs and one hundred and eighty hares, beside a number of meaner animals."

see
text

1794 (summer)

A dry, warm summer
(London/South).

8

1794
(Autumn)

A very wet season over England &
Wales (by the EWP series): The anomaly over the three months September, October
& November was ~140%. In Norwich specifically, 'excessive rains in
September, October & November occasioned a flood of the lower parts of the
city; boats were rowed in several streets, and the water was from 2 to 3 feet
deep in many houses.

EWP

1794/95 (winter & early
spring)

The winter of 1794/95 was exceptionally
severe, with the very cold conditions setting in on Christmas Eve 1794 (though
it had been cold since November). The frost then lasted, with some breaks,
until late March. The cold was most intense during January, with resulted in
the coldest January (and the coldest 'any-month') in the instrumental era (as
assessed by CET measure/series begins 1659). The February value of 0.8degC was
3.0C below the long-term mean. On the 23rd, the Severn was frozen and so was
the Thames, with the usual 'frost fairs' being set up there. On the 25th
January, an extreme temperature of (minus) 21 degC (converted from degF) was
recorded at an unspecified location in England, though some references give
this as 'London'(**).
A rapid but temporary thaw, accompanied by heavy rain began on the 7th
February(##). This resulted in much flooding across large areas of (at least)
England - extensive damage to bridges. The severe cold returned after February
12th, and (as noted above), continued well into March. Snow was noted on
several occasions between 13th February & 2nd March at Syon House, then a
highly rural location on the north (Middlesex) shore of the Thames, opposite
Kew Gardens. The snow events were accompanied by 'easterly' winds &
anticyclonic type positioned to the north.
In Scotland, it was the seventh coldest winter at Edinburgh in the series
1764/65 - 1962/63. {coldest 1779/80} Frequent heavy snowfall reported from many
places in Scotland during January 1795, with transport severely disrupted.**[There are considerable doubts surrounding the exact value
here; one interpretation of the original value is that it represented -38degF,
representing -39degC. This would be extreme indeed, and given that temperatures
were often read inside unheated rooms at this time, and that the likely
location was London (albeit a fraction of it's current size), -39degC is in my
view far too low.]
##The problem was one of melting snow plus heavy rain, on top of frozen ground
(which takes some time to thaw out after an extended very cold winter), coupled
to a wet previous autumn: the autumn of 1794 averaged over England & Wales
had around 140-150% of 'normal' rainfall, with much of the excess 'locked up'
in the ground by early severe frosts from November onwards. There are many
contemporary reports of buildings of 'every description' being swept away;
bridges, canals, turnpikes etc., being rendered unusable. Many lives lost. Even
some of the 'great' country houses of the land were 'mid-leg deep in Water',
with tales of people passing from room to room in boats.

6, 8, CET

February 1795

Thames flood in mid-February (in
London).

8

April & May 1795

April brought significant flooding after
the snow of the winter (see above), and May brought more snow. On the 15th May
(calendar uncertain), snow lay about a foot (30cm) deep in Aberdeenshire, and
thick layers of ice covered the rivers.

x

1795
(September)

A remarkable September! It was both one
of the wrmest Septembers on record, with a CET value of 16.0 degC (nearly 3C
above the all-series mean), and in the 'top-5' of warmest such-named months. It
was also very dry with an EWP value of just 13 mm, placing it also in the
'top-5' of dry such-named months. Indeed, at Somerset House (London), only 0.08
ins of rain was recorded, or roughly 2 mm.

CET,
EWP,8

1795

A dry year; Hot & dry in September
(London/South).

8

1795/96 (winter)

One of the warmest winters (by CET) in
the series which began in 1659. Up to 1997, rank=7 Value=6.20; Dec=6.6,
Jan=7.3, Feb=4.7 (Others: 1686, 1734, 1834, 1869, 1935, 1975, 1989 and
1990.)

CET

1796

A dry year; a dry summer
(London/South).

8

December 1796

Very severe frost in London on the 25th:
-21degC in Marylebone, -19degC in Mayfair. Thames frozen.
Although the winter overall did not stand out as regards low temperatures,
December in particular, using the CET record, was amongst the five coldest
such-named months in that record (since 1659), and included a bitterly cold
spell around Christmas. The temperature in London on Christmas Eve was noted as
~(minus)21degC, and Christmas Day was intensely cold, with the Thames
frozen.

6, 8, CET

1796/97 (winter)

A notably stormy season.

x

1797

Fog daily 16th - 28th February
(London/South).
A wet summer (in London). A rather wet summer generally across England &
Wales. According to Lamb (in CHMW), the anomaly was 140% of LTA
(1916-1950).

1, 8

1798 (late spring)

Persistently warm weather through April,
May and June by CET series.

CET

1798/99
(Winter)

Severe frost late December to early
January (London/South).
Frequent, heavy snowfalls affecting at least eastern and central Scotland, from
last third of December onwards. Much transport dislocation in late 1798, and
again from late January 1799 onwards. (No details for elsewhere in the UK.)
A notably severe winter over western Europe / implied much of Britain (Easton,
in CHMW/Lamb).
Early February, 1799 (probably 1st to 3rd), an Edinburgh paper noted that
'these 3 days past, intense frost, accompanied by heavy snow, with a strong
gale from the NE. All communication with the country (Scotland) will be
interrupted.' Similar story from Aberdeen for these days, there reporting snow
'for eight days past' i.e. from late January. A 'strong gale' from the NE
caused much drifting. Later, on the 7th, a great fall of snow interrupted
communications, and a 'great storm of snow' in the Edinburgh area on the night
of the 8th is reported: newspapers on the 9th confirmed the extreme effects
from as far north as Banff. Road completely blocked by blowing snow.

1, 8

1799 (spring)

March to May: persistently cold weather
by CET series. In particular, the CET value for March (3.4degC) and April
(5.4degC) were some 2 to 2.5 degC below average. From records in Devon
(Moretonhampstead), winds were often from between north and east. Snow also
often noted. From records in Kendal (Westmorland / Cumbria), we have . .
"No vegetation in the fields, nor blossoms upon the fruit trees, on the
7th May, 1799. The skins of upwards of 10,000 lambs, which perished in the
spring, were sold in this town. The weather was cold and wet all through the
year."

CET,
CUMB

June 1799

22nd June: beginning of long rainy spell:
only 8 days without rain in a spell lasting until 17th November.
June 23rd: snowstorm, three feet (about 1m) depth in some places in upland
areas of NE Scotland.

Looking at the CET record, the year 1799
was within the 'top-20' of coldest years in that series [value=7.9/about -1.3C
all-series anomaly](starts 1659), and for the 18th century specifically, it was
beaten for low temperatures only by 1784 (7.8degC) & 1740 (6.8degC).